The aunt of a 23-year-old killed in the movie theater slaying in Colorado this week lives in south Milwaukee.Click here for more of our interview.The aunt told 12 News' Abe Lubetkin that the tragic news of her niece's death followed a day of horrible uncertainty while the family waited.Jenny Zakovich said at first, the family of Micayla Medek knew only that she had been at the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" with friends, and that she was missing. But police confirmed late Friday afternoon that she was among the dead."The hardest part is she laid on that floor for 20 hours without my brother knowing where his baby was," Zakovich said. "He's going through so much torment right now. It's terrible. You can't explain what it's like not knowing -- and sitting and waiting"Medek's aunt and father grew up in South Milwaukee. Her father moved away years ago to take a job in Colorado, and that's where Medek and her sister and brother grew up."She had a lot of friends," Zakovich said. "She liked to have fun. All around, a great kid."A great kid, whose older sister visited eight hospitals Friday looking for her."You see stories like this on the news, and you never imagine that something like this could happen to you," Zakovich said. "Who ever thought that this would immediately affect my family?"When I see other shootings and events, and I think, 'Oh my gosh, I can't imagine what those families are going through.' Well, now I can imagine what those families are going through, and it's a nightmare. It's absolutely a nightmare."Medek's family has created a fund to help with funeral expenses. Donations to the Micayla Medek Memorial Fund can be made at any M&I Bank.

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. —

The aunt of a 23-year-old killed in the movie theater slaying in Colorado this week lives in south Milwaukee.

The aunt told 12 News' Abe Lubetkin that the tragic news of her niece's death followed a day of horrible uncertainty while the family waited.

Jenny Zakovich said at first, the family of Micayla Medek knew only that she had been at the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" with friends, and that she was missing. But police confirmed late Friday afternoon that she was among the dead.

"The hardest part is she laid on that floor for 20 hours without my brother knowing where his baby was," Zakovich said. "He's going through so much torment right now. It's terrible. You can't explain what it's like not knowing -- and sitting and waiting"

Medek's aunt and father grew up in South Milwaukee. Her father moved away years ago to take a job in Colorado, and that's where Medek and her sister and brother grew up.

"She had a lot of friends," Zakovich said. "She liked to have fun. All around, a great kid."

"You see stories like this on the news, and you never imagine that something like this could happen to you," Zakovich said. "Who ever thought that this would immediately affect my family?

"When I see other shootings and events, and I think, 'Oh my gosh, I can't imagine what those families are going through.' Well, now I can imagine what those families are going through, and it's a nightmare. It's absolutely a nightmare."

Medek's family has created a fund to help with funeral expenses. Donations to the Micayla Medek Memorial Fund can be made at any M&I Bank.